LIHU‘E — Many residents, including children, were utilizing Kalena Park in Lihu‘e, unsuspecting that a large African tulip tree in the back of the park could have been posing a serious threat. A large crack near the base of the
LIHU‘E — Many residents, including children, were utilizing Kalena Park in Lihu‘e, unsuspecting that a large African tulip tree in the back of the park could have been posing a serious threat. A large crack near the base of the tree threatened to send the 50-foot-plus giant to the ground.
Each time the wind would blow a little harder the crack would expand and make loud crackling sounds.
But thanks to a community watchdog and the Kaua‘i County, park-goers aren’t in danger anymore, as the tree was cut down on Thursday.
Kaua‘i resident Marty Martins said that on Thursday at 9 a.m. he called the county Department of Parks and Recreation to let them now about the danger.
“I went down in person at 10 o’clock to talk to the people at the parks department,” Martins said. “I told George (Ahlgren, Chief of Operations) about this problem, he said he would send somebody down and would be on it.”
At 3 p.m. Martins was still at the park, watching over the tree. He said he had called the Kaua‘i Police Department at 1:45 p.m., but KPD told him they would not send a police officer over.
“A good department would send a cop,” he said. “They would’ve blocked off this whole area.”
Martins said that three weeks prior the county had chopped off in pieces a large branch that had fallen off the same tree. On Thursday a five-foot piece of the fallen branch was still laying on the ground.
“They know this is rotten,” said Martins, sticking his hand inside the trunk where the fallen branch was once attached to, and pulling out pieces of the tree’s soft core.
But what Martins probably didn’t know is that African tulip trees have a soft wood core, making the trees perfect for birds that like to build holes as nests.
“This is a kid’s park,” Martins said in anger. “They don’t care, they’re lazy, they’re corrupt and they’re bigots.”
However, before the night fell, the county had addressed the problem, cutting down the tree. Yellow tape was surrounding the area where once stood a majestic African tulip tree.
The trees, as the name suggests, is native of Africa. It is also known as fountain tree or flame of the forest tree, because of its fiery-red cup-shaped flowers, which hold rain water.
Mature African tulip trees can reach heights of 20 to 80 feet.
Kalena Park is next to Lihu‘e Fire Station in Rice Street.
Ahlgren did not respond at press time to a message left at his office.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
